PRESENT: Councillor Hadland (Chair); Councillor Palethorpe (Deputy Chair); Councillors Caswell, Flavell, Larratt, Miah.

1. APOLOGIES None.

2. MINUTES There were no minutes for signature.

3. DEPUTATIONS/PUBLIC ADDRESSES RESOLVED: (1) That Councillor Roy be granted leave to address the Cabinet in respect of Item 8 “Asset Disposal Plan: Dallington Heath”.

(2) That Mr B Oliver be granted leave to address the Executive in respect of Item 5B “Report of Allotments (Water Charges) Task & Finish Group”.

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (1) Councillors Hadland and Larratt declared an interest in Item 5B “Report of Allotments (Water Charges) Task & Finish Group” insofar as any concessions that might be granted to particular groups of people.

(2) Councillor Larratt declared an interest in Item 8 “Asset Disposal Plan: Land at Dallington Heath” insofar as any future planning application would be determined by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation of which he was a member.

5. ISSUES ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES (A) Report of Tree Policy Task & Finish Group Consideration of this report was deferred.

(B) Report of Allotments (Water Charges) Task & Finish Group Councillor Allen introduced the report and said that the Task & Finish Group had comprised a team of Councillors, Mr Barry Oliver, Mr Tony Care and Tracy Tiff. The team had examined two sites owned by the Council, a private site in the Town and a private site in Blisworth. Some valuable research had been undertaken by the officers to support the Group. The Group had noted that allotments’ charges varied a great deal and the Council’s charges were near the top of the league. The Group had also extended its brief, as it had been difficult not to take account of other issues such as security and management. The main conclusion the Group had reached was that it would not be fair to make charges for water supply before leakages and other problems had been dealt with. Standpipes would seem to be a good idea once leakages had been dealt with; the Mereway allotment site being an example of what could be achieved, whereas the Eastern Avenue South site was an example of an allotment field in a poor state. She noted that a school had applied to acquire some of the land and if this happened she requested that some of the proceeds be reinvested into the site. The Group also noted that across the piece there were few facilities provided under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the Group were also suggesting concessions on water charges for the elderly, disabled and unemployed.

Mr B Oliver commented that the allotment gardens were only as good as the people on them. The Council and the allotment holders were not supporting each other in dealing with the various issues. He referred to one particular site that had been downsized from 161 to 60 plots and the allotment holders had taken on tidying up the site, improving security and providing facilities under the DDA. He estimated that there were five other allotment gardens in a similar position. He also queried what provision would be provided in Wootton and Hardingstone and referred to the loss of Harlestone No 2 site. He commented that the Council and the allotment holders should be working together and the un-adopted strategy created in 2004 based on the 2001 Capacity Study should be resurrected and put into place.

Councillor Hadland accepted that it was right for the Task & Finish Group to have widened the original brief and commented that the Council’s concern was to provide the right number of plots in the right places and to bear in mind the future expansion of the Town. The position in respect of the reinvestment of any capital receipts for the sale of allotment land would be investigated.

Councillor Larratt commented that he had been involved with the Task & Finish Group and thanked all those involved for their contributions. He commented that he hoped that the relationship that had been developed with the Northampton Allotment Network could be sustained. The report went to some considerable depth and he viewed it as the start of a process. In terms of provision it was intended that this should be dealt with through the Local Development Framework and a mechanism would be needed to look at the allotment strategy and he suggested that a working group involving himself, Councillor Allen and Messrs Oliver and Care do this. He further commented that once a strategy was put in place then management plans for each site could be developed.

Councillor Hadland thanked the Task and Finish Group on their work to date and looked forward to seeing the results of future co-operation.

RESOLVED: (1) That the recommendations set out on pages 18 and 19 of the report be accepted.

(2) That the completed action plan be referred back to the next meeting of Cabinet.

6. AUDIT COMMISSION INSPECTION ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING SERVICES (LE, EI)

The Corporate Director for People Performance and Regeneration submitted a report that set out progress since the receipt of an Audit Commission inspection report on environmental planning services. The Council had in place a three year Strategic Improvement Plan, one strand of which was to strengthen the Council’s weakest services. The planning service came within this heading. The Inspectors’ report had been taken account of within the Strategic Improvement Plan. A short-term 28 point action plan had been devised and some parts had already been put in place. Four customer focus issues had been tackled vis; the successful agreement of a vision; the putting in place of a Corporate complaints procedure; improvements to the reception area at Cliftonville and the trialling of a new venue and equipment for the Planning Committee. The Corporate Director for People, Performance and Regeneration also commented that the Joint Core Strategy had been agreed with Daventry and South Northants Councils in respect of a Local Development Framework. A member champion for planning had been identified and Councillor Flavell would be taking on this role and had already accelerated the Planning Committee venue pilot for the following week. He also noted that all planning services came now within one directorate.

Councillor Flavell commented that she had already met with the Chair of Planning Committee to discuss the venue for its meetings and since the Inspectors’ report two interim managers and other staff had been put in place. Advertisements for permanent staff had been placed. In respect of training for Planning Committee members, it was noted that one member had not received any training and this was intended to be remedied shortly and further training for Planning Committee members was also being assessed. Councillor Flavell noted that some Planning Committee members had already met on 13 October 2006 to discuss the Inspectors’ report but as yet she had not received any feedback from this.

Councillor Hadland commented that the Council had been aware of some of the issues prior to the Inspectors’ report and had been moving to deal with them. The customer focus issues had been particularly noted and put in hand. He noted that the third recommendation set out in the report was not actually a decision that was required but referred to the effects of the Inspectors’ report on learning by other service areas.

RESOLVED: (1) That the Inspectors’ report and associated judgements be noted.

(2) That regular reports on progress against the improvement bands be made to Cabinet.

7. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Chair moved that the public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12A to such Act.

The Motion was Carried.

8. ASSET DISPOSAL PLAN: DALLINGTON HEATH (CPFSP) (3)

Councillor Hadland submitted a report that sought the appointment of external property advisors and legal advisors to help the Council explore the strategic options as landowner of land north west of Kings Heath Estate in terms of its future development. He emphasised that the report was purely about the Council’s role as a landowner and its duty to maximise benefit to all Borough residents. The report did not pre-judge any planning framework or planning application. He also noted that the land had been earmarked for development for some years.

Councillor Roy commented that she accepted that the report was about the Council’s landholding but she hoped that any outcome would also maximise benefits for the surrounding communities, particularly within Spencer Ward. The social and economic regeneration of these communities was important.

Councillor Hadland commented that facilities and benefits could accrue in many different ways. This would not just be about realising a capital receipt. RESOLVED: (1) That approval be given to the principle of exploring the strategic options in respect of the Council’s landholdings at land to the north west of Kings Heath Estate to work with adjoining landowners and option holders at Dallington.

(2) That officers be authorised to appoint external property advisors and external legal advisors in respect of negotiations with a consortium of fees for this work being charged against the general raising of capital receipts.

9. APPOINTMENT OF INTERNAL AUDITORS (CPFSP) (3)

This report was withdrawn.

The meeting concluded at 18.50 hours